Purely Accidental - Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Pei Youshan kept reopening the screenshot, growing increasingly confused about what she was doing.
The long, spectacular row of retracted messages made her chronic awkwardness flare up again.
How was she supposed to explain this if Xu Jingshu saw it?
But most importantly—why hadn't Xu Jingshu replied to her yet?
Xu Jingshu always responded whenever she saw her messages. Why was today different?
Had she already seen them and was laughing too hard to reply? Or was she too busy to respond?
Pei Youshan silently prayed it was the latter.
The former would be so embarrassing she'd want to rush to Xu Jingshu's home and forcibly clear her chat history.
In the three-person group chat:
[Lin Feifei]: @Pei Youshan the Retract Comrade, has your CEO Xu replied yet?
[Lin Feifei]: Was she shocked by your magnificent wave of retractions?
Pei Youshan sent the character for "nothing" from the emoji list.
[Pei Youshan]: No idea what she's doing.
[Shao Xingcheng]: Probably busy. She'll reply when she's free.
[Shao Xingcheng]: [Patting your little head.JPG]
Pei Youshan absentmindedly sent a sticker of a cat tucking itself into bed.
Then she rolled over in bed, picked up her phone, exited the group chat, and tapped back into Xu Jingshu's chat window.
Complete radio silence.
Not even a single punctuation mark had appeared.
She had no idea if Xu Jingshu had seen the messages she'd retracted earlier.
After waiting a while longer with no reply, she became certain—Xu Jingshu definitely hadn't seen them. Otherwise, given Xu Jingshu's personality, she would've responded immediately.
Another stretch of waiting yielded no new messages.
She began to think Xu Jingshu must be busy—that was the only explanation for not replying for so long.
She decided to wait a bit more, determined to somehow gloss over this spectacular retraction incident no matter what.
An extra hour of waiting still brought no reply.
But it did bring drowsiness.
A glance at the time showed it was already midnight.
Staring at the screen, doubts suddenly rippled through her heart like water disturbed by wind, wrinkling the tips of her brows.
What could she be so busy with at this hour that she couldn't reply?
But then she reconsidered—for people like them, being too immersed in weekend work to check their phones wasn't unusual.
The doubts dissipated, replaced by sympathy.
She yawned again, rubbing at the moisture in the corners of her eyes.
[Pei Youshan]: Don't work too late. Take care of yourself and get some rest.
Her fingers paused.
[Pei Youshan]: Goodnight.
After sending the messages, she turned off the light, pulled up the covers, and prepared to sleep.
Out of habit, she placed her phone on the nightstand.
After a moment of silence, she picked it up again and placed it beside her.
Only then did she close her eyes and gradually drift into dreams.
......
Xu Jingshu removed her headphones and glanced at the time: 00:12
It suddenly occurred to her that she hadn't stayed up this late gaming in a long time.
Today was entirely thanks to Xu Jingying.
To accommodate Xu Jingshu's schedule, Xu Jingying had specially arranged an online match for today, promising the opponent she'd bring the server's top player to wipe the floor with him!
And make him livestream washing his hair upside down!
Since Xu Jingshu hadn't played this game in a while, she logged on early to play a few rounds and get back into the groove.
Her gaming friends exclaimed "a miracle in our lifetime" and dragged her into long conversations while boisterously helping her warm up.
By the time she finished thrashing the newbies for the third time, it had somehow gotten this late without her noticing.
Xu Jingying had pulled up a chair to watch the entire spectacle.
The opponent had been crushed under Xu Jingshu's effortless dominance, then further schooled when she switched to Xu Jingying's account, until he was thoroughly humbled.
As a spectator, Xu Jingying felt nothing but exhilaration.
Sorry, but having an overpowered big sister backing you up is just that amazing!
And now she got to watch someone wash their hair upside down!
In the game's private chat, the opponent asked: [Is she really your sister?]
Xu Jingshu calmly picked up her water glass and took a leisurely sip.
Xu Jingying turned the keyboard toward herself and typed rapidly: [Of course she is! If I'm not, are you? Still not convinced? Want my sister to teach you another lesson? Come at me!]
Opponent: [... ]
Opponent: [Let me hazard a guess—did you pay a pro to destroy me?]
Xu Jingying: [?]
Xu Jingying: [Hah, you foolish mortal. You know nothing of my sister's financial power.]
Xu Jingying: [No one in this world could afford her. She's super——————————expensive, got it?]
Xu Jingshu lazily glanced up at this line and suddenly thought of a certain cat.
No, there was someone in this world who could afford her.
She'd even let this person have her for free—hell, she'd pay them to take her.
Speaking of which, she hadn't said goodnight to her today.
Her phone was in the bedroom—she'd forgotten to bring it.
She wondered if Pei Youshan was asleep yet.
...If she missed her.
Glass in hand, she stood up, leaving Xu Jingying to bicker with the "kindergarten newbie."
Fortunately, the opponent was a good sport—having promised to livestream the upside-down hair wash, he'd definitely follow through.
He just needed some time to prepare... both the washing setup and his mental state.
Uninterested, Xu Jingshu walked past Xu Jingying and patted her head: "Go to bed early. Don't stay up too late."
In high spirits, Xu Jingying was uncharacteristically obedient: "Mhm, goodnight!"
Xu Jingshu: "Goodnight."
Back in her room, her phone lay quietly on the nightstand.
Picking it up and unlocking it, she was greeted by the impeccably aligned retraction notifications.
Row after row filled nearly the entire screen, as if deliberately arranged.
A question mark slowly formed in her mind.
What was this ragdoll cat up to?
What had she retracted?
Was it about her, or just typos?
But... could someone really make that many typos in a row?
Curious and suspicious, her gaze drifted downward to the only two messages left unretracted:
—Don't work too late. Take care of yourself and get some rest.
—Goodnight.
Work?
She thought I was working just now?
Xu Jingshu checked the time again and suddenly understood something.
...Had she been waiting for me all this time?
[Xu Jingshu]: Shanshan?
[Xu Jingshu]: Are you asleep?
No response.
Not even a change in the status beneath the contact name.
She waited a while longer, but still no reply.
It seemed she'd waited in vain and fallen asleep.
It was as if fate was playing tricks on them—she missed her replies, she couldn't wait for her replies, the absurdity almost laughable.
She recalled how Pei Youshan had looked sleeping beside her days earlier.
Docile and peaceful, sweet and moving—not even the moon could compare to a third of her beauty.
The person on the other side of the screen must be sleeping just as soundly and quietly now.
She lingered on the messages a while longer.
Knowing Pei Youshan had waited for her, had worried about her, filled her with quiet joy.
As usual, she sent her a goodnight.
Goodnight, Shanshan.
Sweet dreams.
May we meet again in our dreams.
......
Sunday, 7 PM.
Pei Youshan parked her car and walked toward the mall.
Xu Jingying had booked tickets for a romance movie at Blue Sky Cinema, starting at 7:20 sharp.
The weather was colder than usual, the biting wind weaving freely through the neon lights.
Pei Youshan exhaled a small cloud of white breath, half her face buried in a red scarf, the tip of her nose slightly pink.
The bustling crowd around her—couples and groups of friends—made her solitary figure seem especially lonely.
For some reason, there seemed to be even more couples than usual today, as if the heavens were deliberately mocking single people.
Pei Youshan paid them no mind. Entering the mall, freed from the relentless wind, she gradually warmed up.
Adjusting her scarf, she took the elevator to Blue Sky Cinema's entrance but went no further, deciding to wait here for Xu Jingying.
This time, she wouldn't agonize over whether Xu Jingshu would come.
Xu Jingshu had worked so late yesterday.
She should be resting at home, not running out at night.
Xu Jingying was a grown adult—she didn't need her sister accompanying her everywhere.
As for Pei Youshan, more than wanting Xu Jingshu's company, she cared about Xu Jingshu's health and rest.
As long as Xu Jingshu could rest properly, it didn't matter if she didn't come.
Taking out her phone, she checked her chat history with Xu Jingshu.
Xu Jingshu had replied very late last night—just a goodnight, nothing more. She hadn't mentioned the retracted messages.
Since Xu Jingshu didn't bring it up, Pei Youshan certainly wouldn't either. Last night's incident was tacitly brushed aside between them.
I hope Xu Jingshu is resting well.
She thought silently.
Turning off the screen, she focused on waiting.
After checking the time and the elevator entrance, she began to feel Xu Jingying was taking unusually long.
So long it seemed like she might not come at all.
Glancing at the cinema lobby and her watch, she decided to wait inside.
But shortly after sitting down, she received a message from Xu Jingying: [On my way! Sorry for the wait, Shanshan-jie!]
She stood up immediately, ready to meet her.
Three steps in, someone approached—a face so beautiful and familiar it shattered all her plans and thoughts.
She froze in shock, hardly believing her eyes.
Xu Jingshu slipped her phone into her coat pocket, gentle eyes brimming with amusement.
"Hello."
"May I treat you to a movie?"
Like a serendipitous encounter.
Like a springtime reunion.
Joy burst like fireworks in Pei Youshan's eyes, illuminating her gaze.
Xu Jingshu.
Xu Jingshu actually came!
She—
Wait, no, why is she here?
Shouldn't someone who stayed up working be resting at home?!
The delight in Pei Youshan's eyes was quickly crowded out by reproach and concern: "Why did you come?"
Xu Jingshu noted her shifting expression with curious amusement: "Shanshan didn't want me to come?"
Pei Youshan's brows furrowed slightly, her tone turning stern: "You worked so late yesterday—you should be resting at home today."
"It's not like we'll never have chances to go out again. Missing one outing is fine."
"You should take better care of your health and get more rest at home."
Xu Jingshu responded with a gentle "okay," then added: "But I wasn't working yesterday."
Pei Youshan: "?"
Damn, I've been betrayed???
"Then what were you doing?"
Xu Jingshu leaned close to her ear.
Thinking it must be something important not meant for others' ears, Pei Youshan immediately grew serious, listening intently.
Then she heard Xu Jingshu say three words: "Playing games."
Pei Youshan: "..."
You ignored me all night... to play games?!
This is absolutely ridiculous!!!
Then her earlobe was lightly kissed.
Her attention instantly shifted to that touch.
Xu Jingshu smiled: "I'm very happy Shanshan worries about me."
Pei Youshan flushed crimson, her eyes darting behind Xu Jingshu: "Y-you—what if Jingying sees?!"
What kind of example would that set for the kid!
"She's not coming."
Xu Jingshu remained unruffled.
"Something came up last minute."
Xu Jingying had orchestrated this opportunity for them—why would she crash as a third wheel?
Besides, she had a livestream to watch at home today.
—The upside-down hair-washing livestream.
For that, she'd happily stay indoors for three days straight.
Pei Youshan immediately understood, uttering an "oh" without further questions.
Xu Jingshu took her hand: "Let's go. The movie's starting soon."
Pei Youshan didn't pull away.
Merging into the crowd, they headed straight for the last screening room.
The best seats, dead center.
The entire theater belonged to them alone.
Because the considerate Xu Jingying had booked the whole place.
Once seated, Pei Youshan quietly withdrew her hand.
Xu Jingshu glanced at their hands and smiled.
Then Pei Youshan heard her ask: "Shanshan, why did you retract so many messages yesterday? What did you send?"
"..."
The air suddenly solidified.
The atmosphere instantly grew awkward.
After a pause.
Pei Youshan scratched the tip of her nose and slowly said: "If I said I was practicing typing..."
"Would you believe me?"
Xu Jingshu: "...?"
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